Summer School: It's Not What You Think
"Summer school" may make you think of remedial classes for students who slacked off during the school year. But that's not the whole story.


Yes, lots of high schools do have mandatory summer school for students who have "under performed." But summer school can also mean attending classes at a college, in programs students actually compete to get into.

A Variety of Programs and Benefits

These days, there are summer schools for just about every type of student, whether you'd like to work on academic subjects or developing skills such as playing an instrument or sport.

Pursue Your Interests

Use a summer program to develop a talent or interest in the arts, humanities, or the sciences. For example, The Kootenay School of the Arts at Selkirk College, located on beautiful Kootenay Lake surrounded by the Selkirk mountains, offers summer courses in drawing, jewellery making, watercolour, pottery, steel and sand sculpting, blacksmithing, ceramics, and fabrics.

For community-based summer programs closer to home, check out your local performing arts centers, science museums, and parks; many have summer programs where you can get hands-on experience, ranging from set design to environmental education.

Gain Experience Outside of the Classroom

Summer school programs often involve a lot more hands-on learning than you'll find in your regular classes. Many summer school programs include practical training, real-world settings, and professional on-site visits in their curricula. Personal development and leadership skills are also major themes.

At the Le Cordon Bleu Ottawa Culinary Arts Institute, students can earn a Le Cordon Bleu certificate in just 3 months, specializing in cuisine or pastry, with courses beginning in June. Many schools, such as Vancouver Premiere College, also offer exciting study/work opportunities with corporate organizations, invaluable for the real experience they offer.

Improve Your High School Transcript

Attending a challenging summer school program can increase your chances of getting into a competitive college or university. While attendance at a high-powered summer school does not guarantee that you will get into an Ivy League school, it does add a certain luster to your college applications.

Max the Mutt, one of Canada’s most renown design schools and located in downtown Toronto, offers an intensive summer program in modules, ideal for beginners or high school students looking to boost their transcripts, or even those that want to strengthen their portfolios.

Universities across Canada offer summer courses and intensive programs that look great on a transcript, resume, or portfolio. Study at one of Canada’s elite institutions and experience the world of higher education while enjoying the summer months on a quiet campus.

Try Your Hand at Real College Work

If you're craving more in-depth study of a subject you're interested in, and high school classes leave you wanting more, college-level classes may be the answer. Or, if you simply want to explore a particular school, or experience college classes, it's a great preview.

Most colleges welcome anyone who wants to learn into their normal college-level classes. Of course, they give priority to students who are enrolled full time, but more often than not room is available. Call the colleges on your wish list. Ask if they have a summer semester and get them to send you a catalog. Or better yet, go online at UC411.com and explore your options right away.

In beautiful London Ontario, one of Ontario's premiere university towns with the University of Western, University of Guelph, University of Waterloo, and McMaster University within minutes of each other, study everything from business to I.T. to health care to law at Thames Valley College, accepting students now for summer courses.

If you’re in the Maritimes, CompuCollege offers summer and distance courses in business, digital media studies, health care, and I.T. at 7 Atlantic campuses. Regardless of your interests, your goals, and your location, there is a school for you and you can find it on UC411.com.

Summer School Tips

When looking for a summer school program, here are some important factors to consider:

• How much of the summer do you want to commit to school? Programs range from five days to eight weeks.
• What do you want to get out of summer school? Do you want to turbo-charge your academics? Teach young children? Learn how a political campaign is conducted? Polish up a second language? Work with engineers in the computer industry?
• Where do you want to learn? Do you want to attend classes at a college’s campus, or would you prefer to learn online at home and on your own time, leaving more of your day to enjoy the summer?
• Can you get credit for summer school courses? Receiving credit depends both on the school where you take the course and on the school you wish to attend, if they are different

Of course, there are also hundreds of courses and programs available online through distance education schools, which offer the flexibility of learning on your time, at your pace, and from your own home - ideal for busy homemakers and professionals alike, and students who want to prepare by taking a college-level course. For a complete listing of top distance education providers, click here.

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